Pothead device



Aug. 11, 1936.

G. P. EDMONDS POTHEAD DEVICE Aug. 11, 1936. p, EDMONDS 2,050,293

POTHEAD DEVICE Filed Jan. s,' 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 7; II i l Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES-PATENT- OFFICE POTHEAD DEVICE.

George P. Edmonds, Chicago, 111., assignor to G & .W Electric Specialty (30., Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application January 8, 1930; Serial No. 419,278

l8Claims. (01.173-353) This invention relates to electrical conductors in general, and more particularly to pothead devices such as are used for connecting electrical cables and.overhead conductors. I

Pothead devices usually include'a tubular insulation member of porcelain for receiving an electrical cable, an inlet device connected to the porcelain at the inlet end thereof for closing the same and embracing the cable, and a device at the outlet end for closing the same and for forming a contact whereby the cable may be electrically connected to the overhead conductor. It is highly desirable to connect these inlet and outlet devices to the porcelain in such a manner that the connection will withstand rough usage and will be substantially air tight. Various means have been provided in the past for connecting these inlet and outlet devices to their respective ends of the porcelain insulator member. In order that no leakage may occur ateither the inlet or outlet ends, it is desirable that these devices be connected to the porcelain without relative rotation therebetween as that would cause an unevenness in any gasket that might be used.

The primary object of this invention is to provide inlet or outlet devices for potheads, and connections therefor to the porcelain of the pothcad, wherein no cement is used and wherein no relative rotation occurs between the various devices and the porcelain.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved construction of pothead and inlet and outlet devices which can be economically manufacturedand assembled and which is readily accessible for inspection, renewal or repair.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent as the same becomes better understood from an examination of the specification and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a pothead embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical iragmentary section of a modification;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken at the lin 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical fragmentary section of a modification;

Fig, '7 is a horizontal section taken at the line 1-! of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, reference character I designates a tubular insulator member provided with an opening 2 at'its upper end and an opening 3 at its lower end for the reception of an electrical cable, the upper end of whichis shown at 4. The insulator membar is provided with a plurality of peripheral longitudinally spaced dielectric baffles 5. v The cable is embraced at the inlet end of the pothead device through the intermediary of a hollow cylindrical inlet fitting 6 connected to the inlet end of the insulator member 1. The lower end of the fitting 6 is provided with an inwardly tapered portion I, the innermost end of which is adapted to embrace the cable.

The outer periphery of the tubular member 1 near its inlet end is provided with a circular groove 8 which forms a circular shoulder 9. The

* lower end of the tubular member 1 forms a cir-- cular shoulder ll which engages the face 52 of a flange l3 integrally formed on the upper end of the fitting 6 through the intermediary of a gasket M. A ring 15 surrounds the lower end of the insulator member l and has its inner periphery cut to provide a similar internal diameter at its upper end and a larger internal diameter at its lower end. The ring 35 is provided with an internal circular shoulder 16 separating the two inner peripheral portions of diiierent diameters. This shoulder i6 is in engagement with the upper outer edge of a snap ring I! seated in the groove 8 in engagement with the shoulder 9. A plurality of circularly arranged longitudinally extending bolts I6 extend through the flange l3 and are threaded into the ring it: to draw the shoulder or face H of said flange against the shoulder ll of the insulator member without any rotational relative movement between the fitting 6 and said insulator member, thereby com pressing the gasket it without danger of causing any unevenness therein. 7

In assembling, the ring I5 is first slipped over the inlet end of the insulator member l beyond.

the groove 8. The snap ring H is then slipped over the inlet end and allowed to snap into place in the groove. The ring 35 is then lowered and is prevented from beingwithdrawn by the snap ring. The fitting 6 may then be bolted to the ring 5 for attaching said fitting to the insulator member. The-fitting 6 is-integrally connected to a bracket l9which may be bolted to a suitable support for the pothead.

The upper end of the cable 4 is in the form of a hollow plug 2! which fits in a suitable socket in the lower end of a terminal member 22. This terminal member acts to electrically connect the end of the cable to a contact member 23 which fits over an'annular cover member 24 and cooperates therewith to form the'cover for the pothead,

said terminal member being provided with a threaded extension 25 which extends upwardly beyond the tubular member I! and is threaded to said contact 23. Agasket 26 is preferably provided on the upper end of the member 24 for sealing the connection between the" contact member 23 and said upper end as the contact member is ,in the circular groove 33 at theoutlet end of the tubular member It acts to prevent withdrawal of the ring 29 as the bolts Mare tightened. In this case also during assembly the ring 29 is first placed over its respective end of. the tubular member i, the snap-ring thereafter snapped into the groove 33 to prevent withdrawal of said ring 29, and-the member 2 3 is then bolted to said ring 29 to compress gasket 33 ,without relative rotationiof the parts on eitherside thereof.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown a device which is substantially the same as that in the previous embodiment, the only exception being that the snap' rings here designated as 3t and35 are of circular cross section, whereas the corresponding. snap rings 32 and H ofthe previous embodiment were of rectangular crosssection. In this modi'-' fication also the walls of the grooves in theinsulator member for these snap. rings are rounded instead of fiat and't'he walls of the shoulders -formed on the, rings corresponding to therings 29 and I 5 are round insteadof fiat.

In Figs. 6 and '7 there is shown a modification I wherein instead of using rings such as the rings 1 29 and1l5 of the'fii-st embodiment, and instead of using snap rings for preventing the withdrawalof these rings; the upper. and lower ends of the insulator member here designated as 36 are provided with circular flanges 37. and 38, respectively. 'The upper fitting heredesignate'd as 39 is exactly the same as in the first embodiment and the lower fitting here designated as 4 [is exactly the same as in the first embodiment. Rings here designated as 12 and lt'correspondi'ng to the rings 29 and i5, respectively, in the first embodiment, are' made in two parts so'thatthey may bepositioned to bring shoulders 34 and 45, respectively, in engagement with the inner face of the corresponding flange on the insulator member and the respective fittings thereafter bolted to their corresponding rings."

It will be apparent that the 'aforedescribed connections for the fittings on the inlet and outlet ends of the pothead not'only facilitate as-' sembly and accessibility. of the parts, but also prevent interference with the evenness of the gaskets useda Other advantages of theaforedescribed con- I struction will be apparent without'further dei scription.

I am aware that many changes may be made without departing from the principles of thii invention. I, therefore, do not wish toibe limited to the details shown' or described. a

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a tubularinsulator member adapted to receive a cable therein and provided with an annular shoulder at one end, an annular connecting member adapted to beslipped over said end past said shoulder, an annular contractible member also adapted to he slipped over said end to engage said shoulder and prevent the withdrawal of said connecting member, a fitting on the end of said insulator member adapted to be connected to said connecting member, and

means for drawing said fitting and connecting member together for attaching the fitting to the insulator member without relative rotation therebetween.

2. In a' device of the character described, the. combination of a tubular insulator member adapted to receive a cable therein and provided with an annular shoulder at one end, said insulator memberv being provided with a second shoulder spaced from the first shoulder, an annu- .lar connecting member adapted to he slipped over said end past said shoulders, an annular contractible member also adapted to he slipped over said end to engage the second shoulder and prevent the withdrawal of saidconnecting member,

a fitting on the end of said insulator member, and meansfor drawing the 'fitting and: connecting member together for attaching the fitting to the annular member without relative rota tion therebetween, the planes of .said shoulders being normal to the axis of the tubular member.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubular insulator member adapted to receive a cable therein and provided with an annular shoulder atone end, an annular conn-ecting'member adapted to be slipped over said end past said shoulder, an. annular contractible member also adapted to be slipped over saidpend to engage said shoulder and prevent the withdrawal of said connecting' member, and a fitting on the-end, of said insulator member connected tosaid connecting member by means of longitudinally extending bolts, S

4'. In a device of vthe character described, the

combination of a pothead member, a readily attachable and detachable engaging ring engaging said member, a connecting ring arranged to act upon said engaging ring, and means for acting upon said connecting'ring, to cause it to act upon the engaging ring.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with. a hollow pothead member, of a readily attachable and detachable engaging ring having engagement with said -member, a

connecting ring engaging said engaging ring, A

and means for drawing upon the connecting ring.

6. In a device of bination with a pothead member, of asnap ring having engagement with an end portion of a pothead member, a connecting ring having engagement with the snap ring, and bolts for acting upon the connecting ring and drawing it against the snap ring.

7. In a device of the class specified, the com--.

bination with a pothead member, of a snap ring having engagement with an end portion of a pothead-member, a connecting ring having engagement with the snap ring, bolts for acting upon the connecting ring and drawing it against the snap ring, and a plate engaging theother ends ofsaid bolts and also engaging the pothead member. 1

8. In a device of the character specified, the

combination of a pothead member having an end portion provided with a shoulder, a .snap

the class specified, the comnally ring adapted to at over the pothead end and against said shoulder, a connecting ring also bolts passing through the peripheral portion of the plate and into the connecting ring and engaging the latter.

10. In a pothead device, a hollow body portion, a series of peripheral longitudinally spaced bailies formed thereon, the body portion extending beyond the said battles and being provided with a shoulder, a fitting mounted at the end of the said extending portion, and a metallic locking member adapted to engage said shoulder, and means for holding the said fitting and locking member in position without being permanently fixed thereon, said means being disposed'outwardly of and in spaced relation to said shoulder.

11. In a pothead device comprising a hollow body portion, a series of peripheral longitudinally spaced'baflies formedthereon, the body portion extending beyond the said baflles at each end'there'of, each ofthe said extending portions being grooved and forming a circumferential flange; a two-part ring embracing the said .cir-

cumferential flange and a fitting bolted to the said two-part ring, the bolts for said fitting and two-partring beingdisposed outwardly and in spaced relation to said flange. f

12. In a pothead device comprising a hollow body portion, a series of peripheral longitudinaly spaced bailles formed thereon, the body portion extending beyond the said baflles at each end thereof, each of'thesaid extending portions being grooved and forming a circumferential flange; a two-part ringhaving an inwardly extending flange arranged. to occupy the said groove and engaging the circumferential flange, and a fitting disposed adjacent said circumferential flange,-and means disposed outwardly and in spaced relation to said circumferential flange for connecting said fittingto said ring.

13. In a pothead device comprising a hollow body p0 ion, a series of peripheral longitudiaced baiiles formed thereon, the body portion extending beyond the said baflles at each end thereof, each of the said extending portions being grooved and forming. a circumferential flange; a two-part ring having an inwardly extending flange arranged to occupy the said groove and engaging the circumferential flange,

and a flange fitting having means for engaging the two-part ring and securing it in position, said means being disposed outwardly and in spaced relation tosaid flange.

14. In a pothead device comprising a hollow body portion, a series of peripheral longitudinally spaced bafiles formed thereon, the body portion extending beyond the said baflles at each end thereof, each of the said extending portions being grooved and forming a circumferential flange; a two-part ring having an inwardly extending flange arranged to occupy the said groove and-engaging the circumferential flange, flanged fittings arranged to close each end of the said hollow body portion and bolts to secure.

the said fittings to each of-the said two-part rings in their relative positions, the bolts for said fitting and two-part ring being disposed outwardly and in spaced relation to said flange. 15. In a pothead device comprising a hollow body portion, closure fittings for the upper and lower .ends of the said body portion, means readily attachable and detachable with said body portion for retaining said flttings in position; the upper fitting comprising a bolting flange, a central apertured hub portion ofiset from the plane of the said flange and a frusto-conoidal section'honnecting the said hub and the said flange.

16. In a pothead device comprising a hollow body portion adapted to contain a cable, closure fittings for the upper andlower ends of the said body portion, means readily attachable and detachable with said body portion for retaining said fittings in position; the upper fitting comprising a bolting flange, a central apertured hub portion offset from the plane of the said flange and a frusto-conoidal section connecting the said hub and the said flange, the said upper fitting arranged to receive and support the terminal of said cable.

17. In a device of the character'described, the combination with a hollow pothead member having an annular shoulder provided on one end, a connecting ring adapted to fit over the shouldered end of thepothead member and be engaged therewith,a fitting adapted to be connected to said connecting ring, and means dis- GEORGE P. EDMONIDS. 

